Deaths from Prescription Drugs in Britain in 2013

Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that 807 people in Britain died from overdoses in 2013. More people died from prescription drug abuse than from overdosing on cocaine and heroin, which had a total of 718 deaths.

In total, there are an estimated 32,000 Britons who are addicted to prescription painkillers.

62 million prescriptions were written out by doctors in 2013, and patients spent an estimated $784 Million (£500 Million) purchasing prescription drugs at pharmacies.